Printing-plate holding and registering mechanism.



R. MIEHLEI PRINTING PLATE HOLDING AND REGISTERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. I917.

1 ,288,6%@ Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

III/m1 70/? A TTORNEY rzrE-rs m. Pnamufma. uusumcram n c UNITED %TATEE% PATENT @FFlQE.

ROBERT IVIIEI-ILE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PRINTING-PLATE HOLDING AND REGISTERING MECHAHISM.

To all whom it may concern 3 Be it known that I, ROBERT MLEHLE, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain, new and useful Improvement in Printing-Plate Holding and Registering Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, concise and exact description. My invention relates to devices for clamping and positioning stereotype, electrotype, and other printing plates in such manner that the plates may be adjusted or registered on the base with great nicety, and it has more especial reference to that class in which the base is provided with a plurality of grooves or channels in its surface for retaining the plate holding hook and registering hooks or clamps. These grooves or channels are necessarily narrow and are only deep enough to accommodate the mechanism of the plate adjusting devices, and for obvious reasons the entire clamp mechanism must be below the printing surface of the plate so as not to be inked by the inking rollers. This invention has for its primary object to provide a plate holding and registering means possessing all or a substantial part of these qualifications, and which is simple in construction, the parts of the same being so arranged as to permit of the parts being relatively heavy to withstand hard use.

A further object resides in providing a device. of the above described character which may be easily inserted at any point along the groove, the arrangement being such that once the device is inserted in the groove and engaged with a plate on the base, the danger of the device working out of the groove even though it may become loosened from. the plate in the operation of the machine is minimized.

Including among the features of my invention is a drop in member that is laterally notched to receive a selected tooth or shoulder upon. a side or either side of a groove in the base. This drop in member is also desirably receivable in the notches that are provided between. teeth or shoulders in this groove.;Th1s drop in member, when it is employed in a registering hook structure,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Application filed March 14, 1917. Serial N 0. 154,802.

constitutes the head of a screw which is preferably stationary and non-rotatable. Upon this screw there is a nut that is adapted to force the plate holding hook member against the plate that it is to hold. Where the screw is nonrotatable it passes through the smooth bore in a connecting member that unites the plate holding hook member with a drop in memberof the hook structure and which drop in member is engageable in undercut portions of the groove. I desirably employ means for maintaining assembly of the screw and the hook structure when there is no plate overlying the hook structure, this assembling means preventing the hook structure from sliding along the screw and dropping out of the groove that received it when such groove is provided in the curved base of a rotating form cylinder.

I will explain my invention more fully 'by reference to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred form of hook ofmy invention and one use thereof, the drawing illustrating the adaptation of such hook to a flat form base for a flat bed press, though the hooks of my invention are obviously adapted to be used in connection with any suitable form support known to those familiar with the art such as form bed bases of rotary presses. In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating a part of a base and a printing plate adapted for assembly therewith by hooks of my invention, a plurality of such hooks being illustrated, one completely assembled and other partially assembled; Fig. 2 is an end elevation illustrating the plate holding hook member and the drop in member permanently connected therewith, the hook adjusting means being absent; Fig. 3 is a View on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4i is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the structure appearing in Fig. a; Fig. 6 is a View of the structure shown in Fig. 5 assembled with the base; Fig. 7 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 6 but with the adjusting nut and drop in screw shown in position, this screw being minus its head and shown in section; Fig. 8 is an end view illustrating the entire hook structure in assembly with the base and a plate upon the base'and engaged by a hook; Fig. 9 shows the drop in screw member and the drop in nut, the balance of the structure being absent; Fig. 10 is an end view illustrating the nut that I preferably employ; Fig. 11 is a view illustrating the drop in screw alone; and Fig. 12 illustrates a clip which I employ to maintain assembly between the screw and the plate holding hook member, the clip being in position upon the screw.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

The base 1 is shown as being flat for use in a flat bed press. It would be curved in the case of a rotary press. This base is provided with a plurality of parallel diagonal grooves 2 which are undercut, desirably upon each side, to make them of T-shape. Each groove is laterally notched and toothed, both side margins of each groove being desirably formed with notches 3 that form the abutment shoulders or teeth 4 in each side of the groove. Each plate hook comprises a plate holding hook member 7 and a drop in member 11 that are substantially rigidly connected as by means of a substantially cylindrical connecting member 12 which is preferably of such dimensions that it does not engage the groove. A illustrated, the drop in member 11 is longer than the width of the top of the groove 2 and is o1 a formation that will enable this drop in member to lodge within the groove when this member is placed lengthwise of the groove. The drop in member is desirably angularly related to the plate holding hook member so that when said hook member is swung to plate holding position, or a posi tion parallel thereto, the drop in member will not only project into the undercut portions of the groove but will engage the sldes of such undercut portions, which sides act as guides for the hook as it is moved along the groove. The drop in member is of a length and has curved ends concentric with the member 12 to enable it to be turned completely around in said groove to present the plate holding hook member to face in either direction of the groove. The plate holding hook member 7 of each hook is illustrated as being sufliciently long to extend across the top of a receiving groove 2. After the drop in member has been placed lengthwise of a groove and has been deposited therein the hook structure is given a turn to engage the ends of the drop in member with the undercut portions of the groove and the sides of the undercut portions of the groove. The plate holding hook member 7 and the drop in member 11 are desirably formediin one integral piece with the connecting member 12 so that as the plate holding hook member is turned the drop in member is also turned,

turning movement being continued until the ends of the drop in member engage the sides of the undercut portions of the receiving groove, whereupon the plate holding hook member, owing to its rigid relation with the drop in member, would be approximately in position to engage the plate that it is to hold. The hook structure 7, 11, 12 is guided by means of the engagement of the ends of the drop in member 11 with the sides of the undercut portions of the groove 2, clearance being maintained between the connection 12 and the teeth of the groove 2 (the space between the rows of teeth forming the narrow part of the groove in which the connection 12 travels) whereby these teeth will not be engaged by the connection 12 to obstruct travel of the hook and whereby such teeth will not be injured by such connection. I employ plate hook holding means that also constitutes registering means for eiiecting plate registering movement of the hook. This registering and plate hook holding means is inclusive of a drop in member, preferably in the form of a screw 13, having a drop in head 14. This drop in head is engageable at different places along the groove and is desirably laterally notched as indicated at 15 to. receive the shoulders or teeth 4, when desired, and which head ls also receivable in notches between adjacent shoulders or teeth 4. By this means the places of engagement along the groove for the drop in head are more closely approximated than if the head were limited to insertion within selected notchesand were not adapted also to receive selected teeth.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the drop in portion 14 of the screw has each side thereof receivable in a notch when the other side thereof receives a tooth 4, to which end the teeth 4 upon each side of the groove 2 are opposite the notches upon th other side of such groove whereby the teeth upon the opposite sides of the groove are in staggered relation. As illustrated the drop in head 14 of the drop in member 13 is adapted to be received in a notch upon either side of the groove while it receives the tooth opposite such notch in the other side of the groove. This head, in-

stead of being shiftable merely from notch to notch, may receive a tooth between such notches whereby each step by step adjusting movement of the head is reduced by one half as compared with the step by step movement from notch to notch.

In the embodiment of the invention illus trated the screw 13 is stationary and is passed through a smooth bore 12 in the connection 12 after the hook structure 7, 11, 12 has been dropped into the groove and turned in position to enable the drop in member 11 to engage the undercut portions of the groove and to be slipped over and grooved end portion 17 of the screw 13 after the screw 13 has been received through the smooth bore in the connection '12. WVhen no plate (such as'plate 5) overlies the registering hook structure the clip 16 prevents the hook structure 7, 11, 12 from sliding-off the screw 13 and dropping out of the groove 2, when the hook is used in a rotating form cylinder. The screw 13 is provided with a nut 18 in threaded engagement therewith and which, by being turned, may be moved along the screw into engagement with the plate holding hook member 7 of the plate hook to force this member 7 into holding engagement with the plate 5. This nut is wider than the narrow portion of the groove and is receivable in the notches thereof to be dropped, with the screw 13, into position below the teeth 4. (with the screw 13) under which the nut may travel longitudinally of the groove. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the nut is cut away at 18 on one side and at one end of the nut and is cut away at 18 on the opposite side of the nut at the other end thereof whereby notch entering formations 18 are formed or left upon the nut. The nut has peripheral rows of holes or recesses 19 in alinemcnt with said notch entering formations. Inasmuch as the swinging movement of the nut turning tool is limited by the sides of the groove 2 in which it operates, the recesses in one peripheral row are staggered with respect to recesses in the other.

When the device is assembled on the base in clamping relation with a plate, as designated in Fig. 1, it is impossible for the device to become disengaged from the groove for the reason that the engagement of the drop-in member 11 of the plate holding hook member prevents tipping of such plate holding hook member to such an extent as would allow the drop-in member 14: to become disengaged from the engaged tooth while the bore 12 of the plate holding member is in engagement with the screw 13 and said drop-in member 14 through the relation of the drop-in nut 18 with the plate holding member prevents the same slipping out of engagement with the screw in one direction, and the engaged plate prevents it from slipping off in the opposite direction to allow the plate-holding member to become disengaged from the screw to allow the same to turn to disengage the drop-in member 11 from the undercut portion of the groove.

In addition, the drop-in nut 18 prevents said drop-in member 1 1 from becoming disengaged fromthe'engaged tooth, unless it is in the one position as indicated in Fig. 1.

While these safety features obtain, the device is readily assembled on or disassembled from the base by slipping the plate holding'member off of the screw and turning the drop-in member 11 out of engagement with the undercut portion of the groove and lifting the same out, and by lifting the screw and its related parts out, the drop-in nut 18 having been turned to allow it to be lifted out of the groove, it being unnecessary to remove the nut from the screw.

VVhile I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the .precise details'of construction shown as changes may readily-be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. A. registering plate hook including a screw having means engagealole at different places along a groove in a base; a plate holding hook member; and a drop-in nut in threaded engagement with the screw and disposed between said means and said plate holding hook member and in propelling relation to said plate holding hook member.

2-. A registering plate hook including a drop-in member having means engageable at different places along a groove in a base; a plate holding hook member; and a dropin propelling member in propelling relation to the hook member and engaging the aforesaid drop-in member and disposed between said means and said plate holding hook member and movable along said first mentioned drop-in member to propel the hook member.

3. A registering plate hook including a screw provided with a drop in head engageable at different places along a groove in a base; a plate holding h'ook member; and a drop-in nut in threaded engagement with the screw and in propelling relation to said plate holding hook member.

4. A registering platehook including a drop in member provided with a drop in head engageable at different places along a groove in a base; a plate holding hook member; and a drop in propelling member in. propelling relation to the hook member and engaging the aforesaid drop in member and disposed between said head and said plate holding hook member and movable along said first-mentioned drop-in member to propel the hook member. I I

5. A registering plate hook including a screw provided with a drop in head engagea'b-lze at different places along an undercut groove in a base a plate holding hook member; a drop in nut in threaded engagement with the screw and in propelling relation to said plate holding hook member and disposed betweensaid head and said plate hold ing hook member; and a drop-in member connected with the plate holding hook member to hold the latter down, the screw operating to hold the latter drop in member in engagement with an undercut portion.

v6. A registering plate hook including a drop in member provided with a drop in head engageable at diflerent places along an undercut groove in a base; a plate holding hook member; a drop in propelling member in propelling relation to the hook member and engaging the aforesaid drop in member and disposed between said head and said plate holding hook member and movable along the same to propel the hook member; and a drop in member connected with the plate holding hook member to hold the latter down, the first aforesaid drop in member operating to hold the latter drop in member in engagement with the undercut portion.

7. A registering plate hook including a drop-in member having means engageable at difierent places along an undercut groove in a base; a plate holding hook member having a drop-in member adapted to be turned in said groove to engage said drop-in member with the undercut portion of the groove and having an opening through which, said first mentioned drop-in member passes to prevent said second mentioned drop-in mem ber from turning to disengage from said undercut portion of the groove,-and a drop-in propelling member in propelling relation to the hook member.

8. A registering plate hook including a drop-in member having means engage-able at different places along an undercut groove in a base; a plate holding hook member having a drop-in member adapted to be turned in said groove to engage said drop-in member with the undercut portion of the groove and having an opening through which said first mentioned drop-in member passes to prevent said second mentioned drop-in member from turning to disengage from said undercut portion of the groove; and a dropin propelling member in propelling relation to the hook member.

9. A registering plate hook including a prevent said second mentioned drop-in member from turning to disengage from said unout portion of the groove; and a drop-in propelling member in propelling relation to the hook member, and disposed between said means and said hook member.

10. A registering plate hook including a drop-in member having means engageable at different places along an undercut groove in a base; a plate holding hook member having a drop-in member adapted to be turned in said groove to engage said drop-in member With the undercut portion of the groove and having an opening through which said first mentioned drop-in member passes to prevent said second mentioned drop-in member from turning to disengage from said under-. out portion of the groove, and a drop-in propelling member in propelling relation to the hook member, and disposed between said means and said hook member and movable along said first mentioned drop-in member.

11. A registering plate hook including a screw provided with a drop-in head engageable at diilerent places along an undercut groove in a base; a plate holding hook member having a drop-in member adapted to be turned in said groove to engage said dropin member with the undercut portion of the groove and having an opening through which said screw passes to prevent said second mentioned drop-in member from turning to disengage from said undercut portion of the groove; and a nut in threaded engagement with the screw and in propelling relation with said plate holding hook member.

12. A registering plate hook including a screw provided with a drop-in head engageable at different places along an undercut groove in a base; a plate holding hook member having a drop-in member adapted to be turned in said groove to engage said drop in member with the undercut portion of the groove and having an opening through which said screw passes to prevent said drop-in member from turning to disengage from said undercut portion of the groove;

and a nut in threaded engagement with the screw and disposed between said head and said plate holding hook member, and in propelling relation with said plate holding hook member.

13. A registering plate hook including a drop-in member having a drop-in head receivable in notches of a laterally notched undercut groove formed in a base; a plate holding hook member having a drop-in member adapted to be turned in said groove to engage said drop-in member with the undercut portion of the groove and having an opening through which said first mentioned drop-in member passes to prevent said second mentioned drop-in member from turning to disengage from said undercut portion of the groove; and a drop-in propelling member in propelling relation to the hook member.

1 4. A registering plate hook including a drop-in member having a drop-in head receivable in notches of a. laterally notched undercut'groove formed in a base; a plate holding hook member having a drop-in member adapted to be turned in said groove to engage said drop-in member with the undercut portion of the groove and having an opening through which said first mentioned drop-in member passes to prevent said second mentioned drop-in member from turning to disengage from said undercut portion of the groove, and a drop-in propelling member in propelling relation to the hook member and disposed between said head and said hook member.

15. A registering plate hook including a drop-in member having a drop-in head receivable in notches of a laterally notched undercut groove formed in a base; a plate holding hook member having a drop-in member adapted to be turned in said groove to engage said drop-in member with the undercut portion of the groove and having an opening through which said first mentioned drop-in member passes to prevent said second mentioned drop-in member from turning to disengage from said undercut portion of the groove; and a drop-in propelling member in propelling relation to the hook member, and movable along said first mentioned drop-in member.

16. A registering plate hook including a drop-in member having a drop-in head receivable in notches of a laterally notched undercut groove formed in a base; a plate holding hook member having a drop-in member adapted to be turned in said groove to engage said drop-in member with the under-' cut portion of the groove and having an opening through which said first mentioned drop-in member passes to prevent said second mentioned drop-in member from turning to disengage from said undercut portion of the groove, and a drop-in propelling member in propelling relation to the hook member and disposed between said head and said hook member and movable along said first mentioned drop-in member.

17 A registering plate book including a screw provided with a drop-in head receivable in notches of a laterally notched undercut groove in a base; a plate holding hook member having a drop-in member adapted to be turned in said groove to engage its drop-in member with the undercut portion of the groove and having an opening through which said screw passes to prevent said drop-in member from turning to disengage from said undercut portion of the groove; and a nut in threaded. engagement with the screw and in propelling gelation with said plate holding hook mem- 18. A registering plate hook including a screw provided with a drop-in head engageable at different places along an undercut groove in a base; a plate holding hook member having a drop-in member adapted to be turnedin said groove to engage its drop-in member with the undercut portion of the groove and having an opening through which said screw passes to prevent said drop-in member from turning to disengage from said undercut portion of the groove; and a nut in threaded engagement with the screw and disposed between said head and said plate holding hook member, and in propelling relation with said plate holding hook member.

19. A registering plate hook including a drop-in member provided with a drop-in head receivable in notches of an undercut groove formed in a base li'aving lateral notches formed in the narrow portion thereof; a plate holding hook member; and a drop-in propelling member in propelling relation to the hook member and wider than the narrow portion thereof and formed to be receivable through said notches into the undercut portion of the groove, said propelling member being in engagement with said drop-in member and movable along the same to propel the hook member.

20. A registering plate hook including a screw provided with a drop-in head receivable in notches of an undercut groove formed in a base having lateral notches formed in the narrow portion thereof; a plate holding hook member; and a drop nut wider than the narrow portion of such groove and formed to be receivable through said notches into the undercut portion of the groove, said nut being in threaded engagement with the screw and in propelling relation to said plate holding hook member.

21. A registering plate hook including a screw with a head receivable in notches of undercut groove having notches on both sides of the narrow portion thereof arranged in alternate order; a plate holding hook member; and a drop-in nut wider than the narrow portion of the groove and being in threaded engagement with the screw and in propelling relation with said plate holding hook member, said nut being cut away on one side at one end and on the opposite side at the other end to allow said nut to be received through said notches into the undercut portion of the groove.

22. A registering plate hook including a screw with a head receivable in notches of an undercut groove having lateral notches formed in the narrow portion thereof; a plate holding hook member; and a drop-in nut wider than the narrow portion of the groove and being in threaded engagement with the screw and in propelling relation with said plate holding hook member, said nut being cut away on one side at one end to allow said nut to be received through said notches into the undercut portion of the groove.

23. A plate holding device including a base having a groove notched laterally on both sides to provide teeth, the teeth upon the opposite sides of said groove being disposed in staggered relation; and a drop-in 10 member also laterally notched to receive a selected tooth and adapted to lie Within the corresponding notch on the opposite side of the groove.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 15 my name this tenth day of March A. D.,

ROBERT MIEI-ILE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

